The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend roared to life with an electrifying atmosphere, fueled first by the highly anticipated return of Daniel Ricciardo to the Formula 1 grid, and then by a sensational, shock pole position performance from Lewis Hamilton that sent waves of excitement through the packed Hungaroring crowd. These two moments set the stage for what promised to be an unforgettable few days in Budapest.
Thursday: Anticipation Builds and Familiar Faces Return
Arriving at the Hungaroring, one of my absolute favourite circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, the air was already thick with anticipation. Wednesday’s dinner with some of the incredible women of the paddock had left me feeling energized and ready to dive into the heart of the Grand Prix action. With temperatures predicted to soar throughout the weekend, I was hopeful that the on-track battles would be as scorching as the weather.
The biggest story dominating the paddock chatter, and indeed my first port of call, was the much-discussed return of Daniel Ricciardo. His comeback to AlphaTauri, stepping in for Nyck de Vries, had created a significant buzz, and journalists flocked to the Red Bull motorhome early to secure a good spot for his media session. As the room filled, a palpable sense of excitement built for the ‘Honey Badger’s’ first official appearance back in the F1 spotlight.
Ricciardo, ever the showman, squeezed through the assembled crowd with his characteristic grin, settling into his seat directly in front of me. He surveyed the eager faces of the press, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Wow, what will you guys do if I win a world championship?” he quipped, a playful jab that instantly lightened the mood and reminded everyone of his infectious personality. His presence alone seemed to inject a renewed sense of optimism and a touch of the familiar charm that F1 had missed.
Following Ricciardo, Sergio Perez took to the stage. I confess I was surprised by the relatively sparse attendance for his session, especially given the clear implications Ricciardo’s return carries for Perez’s long-term future at Red Bull Racing. Despite the underlying pressure and persistent questions about his performance, Perez appeared remarkably calm and collected. He expertly fielded inquiries, maintaining his usual cagey demeanor, offering little away but projecting an image of quiet confidence amidst the speculation.
Our media day concluded at the McLaren hospitality suite, where we spoke with Lando Norris. Fresh off an impressive podium finish at Silverstone, the media was naturally keen to probe his chances of a repeat performance. However, it was clear that the team, despite their recent breakthrough in performance, remains steadfast in managing expectations. There’s a cautious optimism, a sense that they’ve unlocked significant potential with their car, yet they are determined to keep their cards close to their chest, perhaps to avoid undue pressure or to simply focus on incremental gains rather than bold predictions.
As the official media engagements wrapped up, I made my way back to the car park, eager to head back into the bustling city centre. While navigating the Budapest traffic in my hire car, I noticed a striking red Ferrari appearing in my rearview mirror. As we stopped at a traffic light, a moment of recognition dawned on me: it was none other than Carlos Sainz Jnr, chauffeuring his trainer Rupert back to their hotel. A sudden, irrational panic about my driving skills set in. I spent what felt like an eternity, roughly 10 minutes, being followed by an actual Formula 1 driver, acutely aware of my every maneuver. The relief was immense when he finally zoomed past me at Heroes’ Square, allowing me to breathe freely once more. It truly felt like I was back on my driving test, with a particularly high-stakes examiner!
Friday: A Washout and a Trackside Revelation
Friday began with a forecast of heavy rain, prompting me to pack my umbrella with a sense of hopeful preparedness. My excitement to go trackside during the first practice session was high, anticipating the unique sights and sounds only experienced from the circuit’s edge. Unfortunately, the rain proved to be far more relentless than predicted. It poured with such intensity that the Formula 1 cars remained tucked away in their garages for a prolonged period, leaving me, and many other brave souls, trackside in the drenching rain. With little to observe in terms of actual racing, my contemplation was limited to the rather peculiar sight of a strange collection of dead animals near Turn Two – a grim, yet oddly memorable, reminder of the unpredictable nature of the outdoors.
Thankfully, the weather improved for the second practice session, allowing for a much-anticipated track walk. I seized the opportunity to trek all the way from Turn 13 down to Turn Six. Overlooking the challenging chicane at Turns Five and Six, I was genuinely astonished by just how perilously close the cars get to the barriers. The sheer speed was incredible; I could feel the powerful gust of wind as each car rocketed past, a visceral reminder of the immense forces at play. I spent a considerable amount of time observing Daniel Ricciardo’s performance, particularly noting how his driving lines differed from his former teammate, Max Verstappen. Ricciardo consistently took a much wider line over the kerbs, a subtle detail that offered interesting insights into his adaptation to the AlphaTauri car and his unique driving style – perhaps a hint of a future teammate dynamic, who knows?
After practice concluded, we made a frantic, rain-soaked dash to the car, getting thoroughly drenched in the process. The evening, however, brought a welcome change of pace: a delightful meal hosted by the United States Grand Prix promoter. Budapest truly shines as one of the most sociable races on the calendar, primarily because most of the paddock personnel stay in the vibrant city centre. This logistical convenience makes impromptu dinners and social gatherings incredibly easy, fostering a unique camaraderie among colleagues and competitors alike.
Saturday: Brunch, Chance Encounters, and a Shock Pole
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, a welcome contrast to Friday’s deluge. The Hungarian countryside sparkled under the morning sun as I enjoyed my relatively short drive into the circuit. Much like the Austrian Grand Prix a few weekends prior, the Budapest promoters and organisers have truly perfected their traffic management system, making the journey to and from the track remarkably smooth. After breezing through the turnstiles, my first destination was McLaren for their highly anticipated brunch. I paused briefly to exchange greetings with Andrea Stella, the esteemed Team Principal, before continuing my quest for some much-needed sustenance. The encouraging performance in the third practice session had set a high bar, and I was genuinely excited to see what qualifying would hold later that day.
Popping into Aston Martin for a quick coffee, I had a truly unexpected encounter. I walked directly into Fernando Alonso, who, unusually, was completely on his own. He flashed me a broad, genuine smile and offered a friendly “hello” before swiftly dashing out of the hospitality area and towards the garages. These moments, where an F1 driver takes a brief second out of their intensely packed schedule to acknowledge someone, are always a delightful surprise. I honestly don’t think I will ever completely get used to the unexpected accessibility and genuine warmth that some of these global superstars occasionally exhibit.
As the initial segments of qualifying progressed, and the first drivers were eliminated, I headed down to the newly improved media pen. Formula 1 and the FIA have clearly put in tremendous effort to enhance the working conditions for the written press, particularly during scorching hot race weekends. Providing much-needed shade, along with better solutions than the often chaotic and uncomfortable ‘scrum’ format at the end of sessions, is a significant improvement that greatly benefits journalists. This thoughtful consideration for media welfare allows us to do our jobs more effectively and comfortably.
While I was in the midst of interviewing a visibly unimpressed George Russell, who had suffered an early exit in Q1, a tremendous roar suddenly erupted from the crowd. Max Verstappen had just snatched provisional pole position, a seemingly inevitable outcome given Red Bull’s dominance. Russell, clearly distracted by the ongoing battle for pole, quickly made his excuses and dashed off, eager to witness the climax of the session unfold.
Mere moments later, an even louder eruption of cheers shook the Hungaroring. Russell’s own teammate, Lewis Hamilton, had defied expectations, beating Verstappen by an astonishingly narrow margin of just three-thousandths of a second. This incredible feat brought an end to Verstappen’s seemingly unbreakable run of pole positions. The sheer jubilation emanating from the stands was palpable; the Red Bull stranglehold on qualifying had been broken, at least for this particular Saturday, injecting a thrilling element of unpredictability into the weekend.
Sunday: Race Day Drama and a Star-Studded Departure
Arriving at the circuit exceptionally early on Sunday, primarily to attend briefings with the teams’ technical bosses before the main event, I was immediately struck by the sheer diversity of nationalities represented in the car park. Vehicles proudly displayed license plates from the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia, and, of course, a significant number from the Netherlands. This vibrant mosaic truly underscored just how immensely popular the Hungarian Grand Prix is, and indeed, the truly global reach of Formula 1’s audience. It was a powerful reminder of the sport’s widespread appeal, drawing fans from across Europe and beyond.
After parking, we made our way towards the circuit, where Formula 3 cars were already zipping around the track, adding to the early morning buzz. Passing the allocated slots for the Formula 1 drivers’ cars, we noted that most had yet to arrive, indicating the early hour. As we ventured into the paddock, the temperatures were already soaring, with track temperatures rapidly approaching a blistering 35 degrees Celsius, even as the crowds began to pour in, filling the grandstands and hospitality areas.
I stopped for a quick but satisfying lunch at Aston Martin before making a swift visit to McLaren, primarily to wish their communications team good luck for the upcoming race. Lando Norris, having qualified an impressive third for the race, was naturally hopeful for his second podium finish of the year, and the atmosphere around the team was a mix of quiet determination and nervous excitement.
As I walked into the McLaren suite, I immediately spotted Norris standing at the end of a long table, deep in conversation. Stopping briefly, I congratulated him on his stellar qualifying performance and, with a touch of curiosity, asked if he felt he could challenge Verstappen into Turn One. “I can get past Max,” he responded instantly, without a hint of irony, his confidence shining through. Then, a slight shift in his demeanor, a wry smile appearing: “No way I’m getting past Lewis.” His honesty was refreshing, a candid acknowledgment of the formidable challenge presented by the seven-time world champion.
Making my way out to the paddock, I leaned on the barriers, simply soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, the pre-race tension, and the electric buzz that precedes a Grand Prix. Suddenly, I felt an arm on my back. Spinning around, I was surprised to find Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal, emerging from the McLaren hospitality. “Chats, chats, chats,” he replied with a knowing grin when I asked what he’d been up to. Quick as a flash, I shot back playfully, “Wolff to McLaren. I’m writing it up as we speak,” sparking a shared laugh amidst the serious business of race day.
What had promised to be an incredibly exciting and closely contested race, especially given Hamilton’s pole, unfortunately, felt largely decided within the first two corners. Max Verstappen, demonstrating his ruthless race craft, expertly squeezed past Hamilton at Turn One. Not to be outdone, Lando Norris – defying his own pre-race prediction – executed a similar move at Turn Two, further shuffling the front order. From that point onwards, however, another Verstappen victory never truly looked in doubt. Despite the initial skirmishes, the race settled into a familiar rhythm, very much business as usual for the dominant Dutchman.
Standing in the post-race media pen, the drivers began to filter through, most grumbling about various challenges they had encountered – excessive tyre wear, specific niggles with the car on track, or missed opportunities. Daniel Ricciardo, however, presented a striking contrast. Despite being hit from behind at the first corner and ultimately finishing a modest 13th, he had a massive, beaming smile on his face. “I’m happy,” he stated unequivocally as he approached the media, his signature positivity a refreshing departure from the usual post-race complaints, underscoring his unique and enduring spirit.
Leaving Budapest on Monday after a final, relaxing lunch in the city centre, a serendipitous celebrity sighting provided a fitting end to the weekend. I spotted the acclaimed actor Eddie Redmayne walking past us. With Brad Pitt already involved in the upcoming Apple F1 film project (APX), I couldn’t help but wonder if Redmayne might also be joining the rapidly growing list of Hollywood stars drawn to the captivating world of Formula 1.
2023 Hungarian Grand Prix Insights
- Was F1’s Alternative Tyre Allocation test successful? Drivers and teams have their say
- How far can McLaren climb with car rivals now say is the second-fastest in F1?
- Why Ricciardo says McLaren’s car “speaks Lando’s language” – but Norris disagrees
- Mercedes reveal cooling error behind loss of pace in Hungarian GP
- Perez answered critics in Hungary but needs to qualify better – Horner
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